Page 77 of Sleigh My Heart

“Mickey. I can’t. I can’t.” He ran his hands up her biceps, gripping the soft, firm skin.

“You can’t?” With one fingertip, she traced the veins of his forearm.

What? He couldn’t live without her. The last twenty years about killed him. By God, he wouldn’t live the next twenty the same way.

Her smile was playful… sexy as hell. But did she feel the same? Did her gut churn at the thought of losing him? Did she love him? Because the love he had for her years ago was nothing compared to the love flooding his body now.

“Outside voice.”

“I can’t wait.” He gripped her hips, and in one swift move, lowered her onto his shaft. He was too lost by the time he realized he had forgotten a condom. She must have been too. Because as they scaled the wall of passion, she was right with him, thrust for thrust. Moan for moan.

When she reached her peak, he increased his speed to follow her over.

He pushed her curls from his face, gently stroking her cheek. “I’m sorry.”

She looked up, perplexed. “For what?”

“I forgot protection.”

Her shoulder casually raised and fell. “I have it covered. As long as you’re clean.”

“As a whistle.”

“Then all’s good.”

It was better than good. Mickey was in his bed. His Mickey. And he didn’t have to pick up his daughter for hours.

***

Three hours later, the sun shone over the trees and Michelle was on her second cup of coffee. The files were spread across the table between Nick and her. “I don’t think I’m awake yet. No solid leads connecting Towers to Junior, Garmen, and Staniski are popping up.”

“Other than them working for HighTower?” Nick leaned back in the chair, shirtless.

“Yeah, that.” Maybe the dusting of hair on his chest was distracting her. Or the man himself. Michelle cleared her throat and dropped her vision to the computer in front of her. She glanced from the files to the screen. “I can’t find anything. I don’t see an email or text between them, not even a social media DM. All of their communications would have to have been in person. That seems unlikely.”

“Agreed. Even if they worked together.” Nick stroked his chin.

Michelle licked her lips. She’d enjoyed his day-old growth immensely. When his lip hitched up, she realized she’d been staring. Well, crap. She cleared her throat. “I still need to check on Staniski’s parking ticket.”

“The timing is suspect. Not to mention that he hadn’t worked for HighTower at the time.”

“I need to check with Towers’ assistant. She didn’t sound like Jonny had been to Evan Towers’ office, but she could verify Staniski was in the building. She could get me the security logs. They badge in and out.” Frustration ate at her gut. Michelle groaned. There had to be more. But she couldn’t pin this on Towers with a dead guy’s visit and Junior’s nerves. “How do you see this going down?”

“I think there was a middleman.”

“Yeah.” She leaned back and thought. “Who would Towers use to contact Junior if he didn’t want to be seen at the mall? Someone who wouldn’t be obvious?”

Nick shook his head. “He must have a trusted employee or someone. It’s not like he would just send anyone to request they steal the sleigh.”

A lightbulb flickered in her brain. The coffee mug clunked on the table and her fingers flew over the keyboard.

“What? You got something?”

“Maybe. How did I not think to look for the link?” When the site pulled up, she scrolled through relatives and possible relations. “Bingo.”

Nick leaned in.

“It’s amazing when you search someone’s phone number, it tells you who they might be related to. I just need to confirm it, but I think I found our connection.”